Dog Bite Prevention Week 2010

In a tradition started by none other than the Postal Service, this week (May 16 to 22) marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week. The public service campaign was initiated to call attention to one of the nation’s most commonly reported public health problems – dog bites – and offers safety tips, emphasizing the need for increased pet owner responsibility in the prevention of dog bites.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Of those, one in five results in injuries that require medical attention. In the latest annual data available, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report that small children, the elderly, and Postal Service carriers — in that order — are the most frequent victims of dog bites. It is also stated that the number of dog bites exceeds the reported instances of measles, whooping cough and mumps, combined. Dog bite victims account for up to five percent of emergency room visits.

But – there are ways to make dog bites less likely and to help prevent all people from being bitten by dogs. Read tips for how to prevent a dog bite here.

Remember NuNu, the demonic Chihuahua who tried to bite anyone who came near her from the very first episode of Dog Whisperer? “NuNu’s tale proves Cesar’s belief that a calm assertive pack leader can create transformation, even with a little dog that no one thought could ever change,” said Executive Producer Jim Milio, in remembrance of NuNu.

This week, as we raise awareness about the prevalence of dog bites in this country, we also highlight the human’s responsibility in preventing them and remind ourselves of the importance of maintaining calm, assertive pack leadership.

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Sun, 05/16/2010 - 8:16am — barb94

Dog Bites

I own a German Shepard.
In my neighborhood there are many pit bulls.
I was sitting on my front porch with my former German Shepard (I had him on leash). Someone drove by with a pit bull and he jumped out of the window of the van. I almost got my dog in the door and the pit bull came up the porch and pulled my dog down the steps by the back of the neck and started to attack him. I screamed and my husband came out and kicked the pit bull in the head and the dog went running back in the van.
The owner got out and said it was not his fault that his dog jumped out of the window. My husband told him it was his responsibility.
We were so scared, thinking about what would have happened if our 12 year old son was taking out dog for a walk and this happened.
To make things worse, our dog had bone marrow cancer and could not walk for three months, because of it. (He had just fully recovered from the affects of the cancer and had just started to walk again). On a good note, the vets had told us he only had about 6 months to live. Well with the chemo we gave him in pill form to make his blood thinner and lots of love and prayers, he lived a good health life until he was 14 years old.
My point is that people need to respect other people and should train their dogs and use preventative measures to stop this kind of behavior.
We now have a new shepard, we adopted him when he was 2 years old.
I now have a neighbor who comes over and taunts my dog with his pit bull. He said he is trying to train his dog.
I take my dog for walks but not too far, because of this and because of my other neighbors who let their pit bull run free in the front yard. It is not just pit bulls, but people need to keep their dogs restrained when they are outside of the yard.
My dog loves people and loves when they come up to us to pet him, but he does not like other dogs coming near him. I am afraid that the neighbors dog will run up to us and a fight will start.
Barb Larsen